Photographing life, Merritt's newborn photoshoot

Today was Merritt's official due date. Did I really give birth to him 7 full weeks ago?!

Our intention to have Merritt's birth photographed was thwarted by his surprise arrival, and we hoped equally as much to have our homecoming captured on the day he was discharged from the hospital.

Unfortunately, that didn't work out either.

Instead, Mel came to our place soon after we were settled, and what she captured really warms my heart. Truly. The joy of now has all but snuffed out the agony I felt during the four weeks that followed Merritt's birth. We reunited seamlessly, and nothing that came before seemed to matter much.

These photos are my proof, and it feels so good to be home.

Check out the slideshow here. And Mel's blog post all about us here.

One year photos

I've come across a lot of posts lately about the important role that a professional photographer can have in documenting family life. I had no idea how cherished Mel's photos would become until she joined us for Roscoe's birth and I viewed our new family of three through her lens. They are the most meaningful photos that we own and I am still brought to tears when I view Roscoe's birth slide show.

Our photo shoots with Mel are wonderfully relaxed, and so much fun. We always feel more like we're spending the afternoon catching up with a good friend than fulfilling a contract. We love Mel, and we love her work. Over this last incredible year, she's become so very special to us and we're grateful to her for introducing us to her passion and for turning us on to what will surely be a lifetime of fantastic photography.

Last week we had a blast on the National Mall for Roscoe's one year photo shoot. To view the slide show click here (and be sure to turn your volume up!!).

Here are just a few of my favorites!

To read Mel's lovely post about the day, click here.

Have you ever hired a professional photographer? Who are your favorites?

Momma lives here, too

Someone is noticeably absent from the thousands of pictures that we've taken since I purchased my DSLR camera back in October of last year.

I am in very, very, few of the photos and I can blame this sad fact on three things:

1. I am usually the one behind the lens

2. My new camera is a tiny bit trickier and more cumbersome to use than my old point & shoot and cannot be as easily passed to another person

3. I sometimes decline photo ops

I was disappointed a few months ago, when I realized that our fun, sweet, and crazy times as a momma and baby pair have not been adequately captured on film. Since then, I've been more intentional about finding my way into photographs. I'm pretty sure that when we all look back, not one of us will care if Momma's makeup was applied, or if her hair was assembled.

I also wish I had more pictures of the three of us. Family shots can be categorized as occasional, if not equally absent.

I recently read this fantastic post on The Creative Mama, about The Importance of YOU in photographs. It reminded me how very relevant, and apparently universal, my experience is. And I love all the practical tips to help insert mommas back into the picture (read the article for the goods!).

Another thing I haven't even tried out yet--the self timer!!

And for fun, because Roscoe is a cutie pie and because Momma doesn't have to look polished in every photo: post-slide pics from last weekend!

Thanks Ed!!!!

Ed gifted us with some great photos from our baby shower at 28 weeks!
Here are a few of our favorites:

A gift for Grandma

Baby food taste test

"Musical Bottles"

These pictures remind me how much I loved being pregnant. I miss my belly! It's crazy to think of a time when we didn't yet know Roscoe...and now that we've met him it's crazy to think that I carried him inside my body for 9 months.

Check out some of Ed's other work here!

They're heeeere!!

A blog post and a slide show of sweet baby Roscoe at 2 weeks! He's already changed so much since then...

Mel, you are awesome!!

A few professional shots from Mel....just minutes after birth